§ Mr. Marksasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, assuming that price rises between November 1981 and November 1982 are as forecast, what will be the 133W total gain or loss for the period November 1980 to November 1983 for single and couple retirement pensioners, if pensions accurately reflect price increases.
§ Mr. RossiOn the assumptions stated, and assuming entitlement at the standard basic rates in each case, there would be an overall net loss over the three-year period of £7.28 for a single pensioner and £16.12 for a married couple. These figures do not reflect the real and continuing improvement made in the November 1979 uprating amounting to 41p a week in the corresponding rates for a
Retirement pension rates Hypothetical retirement pension levels to the nearest penny, based on actual movement of prices between upratings from November 1979* Date Single person £
Married couple £
Single person £
Married couple £
November 1979 23.30 37.30 23.30 37.30 November 1980 27.15 43.45 26.87 43.01 November 1981 29.60 47.35 30.08 48.16 November 1982 †32.85 †52.55 32.79 52.49 * Based on the year on year movements in the retail price index between November 1979 and November 1981 and assuming that the current forecast of a 9 per cent. increase in the retail price increase in the 12 months to November 1982 proves correct. † Subject to approval by Parliament.